Why Did I Spend So Much Money On A Camera? Cell Phone Moon Photo

[joeychitwood]

Why do I own a digital SLR and expensive lenses when my cell phone takes photos like this? I took this photo tonight by holding my Samsung Galaxy phone up to the eyepiece of my telescope. The Apennine Mountain Range stretches 400 miles across the center of the photo. The Copernicus crater is at the center in the shadow line, or terminator. You can see the two mountain peaks in the crater. The Tycho crater is at the top right with a single mountain peak in the center. The Moon is a mirror image, because it was photographed through a telescope. How does a tiny phone sensor and a lens the size of a chip of glass do this???

[gabrielnovar]

WTF... you thats your phone take a pic through the lens of a telescope with no adapter?

crazy.


Also why haven't we been back to the moon? and why can we only see one side of it?

[BBL]

Doc - that photo is in the "wow" category! How creative of you! Best in show!

DM

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by gabrielnovar

WTF... you thats your phone take a pic through the lens of a telescope with no adapter?

I held the phone camera up to the eyepiece wearing gloves. I just moved the phone around until I could see the entire image and snapped a few shots. I was pretty surprised when I downloaded them to my desktop and saw them on the big monitor.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

I've shot the moon only with a DSLR and Long lenses. Even my old 8MP Canon took incredible shots. That shot is a "wow" for a phone, but not a reason for me to question my DSLR. Have you shot your DSLR through that same telescope?

[superdog]

wow. that is incredible.

[Cryten]

Impressive photo

I sold a lot of high end glass for a similar reason, it just doesn't seem necessary any more. So now what do we do? spend money on high end watches that really aren't necessary either?

Originally Posted by gabrielnovar

Also why haven't we been back to the moon? and why can we only see one side of it?

1) Because no one can afford to

2) Because the aliens don't want us to see them

[Daveh3196]

That is a seriously impressive pic!


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[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

Have you shot your DSLR through that same telescope?

The adapters and equipment needed to shoot DSLR photos are very expensive for my type of scope. The Dobsonian style telescope isn't great for astrophotography. Most astrophotographers use CCD cameras and tracking mounts, and one can buy a lot of Rolexes for the price of a decent setup.

[SearChart]

Beautiful shot!

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

I've shot the moon only with a DSLR and Long lenses. Even my old 8MP Canon took incredible shots. That shot is a "wow" for a phone, but not a reason for me to question my DSLR. Have you shot your DSLR through that same telescope?

This was my attempt with a DSLR and 400 mm lens a couple of years ago. I found focusing to be very difficult, even using Live View. Craters are seen much better along the terminator during a non-full Moon, as shadows bring out details not seen on a full shot.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

The adapters and equipment needed to shoot DSLR photos are very expensive for my type of scope. The Dobsonian style telescope isn't great for astrophotography. Most astrophotographers use CCD cameras and tracking mounts, and one can buy a lot of Rolexes for the price of a decent setup.

Agreed.

What if I told you THIS https://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh.../dp/B0000C8VF9 ...Through a telescope....


Took this shot.... http://www.earlb.com/blog/wp-content...-moon-BW-3.jpg

Not mine. From here http://www.earlb.com/blog/2010/12/ra...-eclipse-2010/

That Canon A80 is from 2003. I had one. 4MP. lol I bought one years ago on eBay for $30. Still a pretty impressive camera even compared to phones and point and shoots today.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

This was my attempt with a DSLR and 400 mm lens a couple of years ago. I found focusing to be very difficult, even using Live View. Craters are seen much better along the terminator during a non-full Moon, as shadows bring out details not seen on a full shot.

Agreed. Full moon doesn't yield anything great even with expensive gear.

[donas]

Wow, that is better than I have been able to get with an expensive DSLR and lens....guess that's why I better keep practicing (or just buy a telescope). Thanks for sharing.

[joeychitwood]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

Agreed.

What if I told you THIS https://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerSh.../dp/B0000C8VF9 ...Through a telescope....


Took this shot.... http://www.earlb.com/blog/wp-content...-moon-BW-3.jpg

Not mine. From here http://www.earlb.com/blog/2010/12/ra...-eclipse-2010/

That Canon A80 is from 2003. I had one. 4MP. lol I bought one years ago on eBay for $30. Still a pretty impressive camera even compared to phones and point and shoots today.

I have a Canon PowerShot S110. I'll have to try taking a photo through the telescope.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

I have a Canon PowerShot S110. I'll have to try taking a photo through the telescope.

Good idea. I just found this post. They got a nice result with a Spoting scope and an S400. (another old P&S canon) Crazy

https://www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/3655600

[Abdullah71601]

Isn't your eye about the same size as the aperture on your cell phone camera? It would seem that the phone would be a natural for your telescope.

[Rolex Essex]

Very impressive shot of the moon.

[Razorsedge1]

That is a great picture!

[simbal]

That’s the bright side of the moon!


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[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

Isn't your eye about the same size as the aperture on your cell phone camera? It would seem that the phone would be a natural for your telescope.

Good observation. You would think with the great results through the viewfinder there would be tiny attachments that aren't much bigger than a regular eyepiece with a camera sensor built in to it. Connect via bluetooth and voilà, perfect shot.

[Romeojk]

Great shot. You made me think about this past summer I took a picture of a bird with my iPhone 6 through one of my binocular lenses and it came out pretty good.

The sky is an amazing place at night, so much going on out there.


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[dba]

Fantastic shot.

I sometimes wonder the same thing. After lugging a DSLR and an iPhone through Europe a couple of years ago, I've stopped using the DSLR. I just take the iPhone whenever and wherever I travel.

[blowfish89]

Here is my moon picture I took on my iPhone 7+ holding it up to the eyepiece of a telescope in Maui, HI

[blowfish89]

I’ve also stopped using my DSLR but I do plan to buy the latest Fuji X-100. I think the image quality difference still exists but it’s not justified anymore for me to carry a large camera on vacation.

[RW16610]

Wow! That's incredible. Hard to imagine owning anything else with results like that from a phone.

[Grnvette65]

Great shot, thanks for the geography lesson

[greggsiam]

Originally Posted by gabrielnovar

WTF... you thats your phone take a pic through the lens of a telescope with no adapter?

crazy.


Also why haven't we been back to the moon? and why can we only see one side of it?

Because the rate of spin is synchronized with the rate of revolution.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZIB_leg75Q

[joeychitwood]

Good photo, blowfish89. I never get tired of looking at the Moon through my telescope.

[Burlington]

That’s an incredible shot !! Wow, just beautiful.